WalMart asks conservative Supreme Court to dismiss class action alleging gender bias

The Associated Press reported today that WalMart has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the conservative court to throw out a class action suit that originated in the Ninth Circuit.  The suit alleges that millions of women have been paid less than men for doing the same work, that women are less likely to be promoted, and that men are promoted after fewer months of employment. 

WalMart is the world's largest private employer.  This suit was filed in 1991 by six women employees.  The case has been delayed for years by WalMart's dilatory tactics and will now be delayed for another year while WalMart hopes that a conservative court will rescue it from allegedly wide-ranging gender discrimination.  Most likely, the Supreme Court's decision in the Lilly Ledbetter case--holding that her statute of limitations ran before she even knew she was a victim of discrimination--has emboldened WalMart to seek help from a Court that is racing to turn the clock back by 80 years.